Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biophysics

Cancer is one of the major public burdens worldwide. Available treatments are associated with numerous side effects. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been employed as useful tools in medical diagnosis. Allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate) is the major component present in freshly crushed garlic. Allicin can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. In the present study the toxicity of allicin to colon cancer (HCT116) and liver cancer HepG2 cell lines was measured by MTT assay, results indicated that high concentrations of allicin decreased cell viability by 50% or more according to cell type and concentration. The recorded IC50 values were 77.9 and 69.4 og/ ml for HCT116 and HepG2 respectively. The two cell lines were treated with EMF, allicin and with both EMF+allicin. Cells exposed to EMF and EMF+allicin with 2, 3 and 5mT for one hour per day for three days. Genes expression for HCT116 and HepG2 treated with allicin , EMF and EMF + allicin showed significant positive apoptotic activity (p < 0.05) compared to control ones and cisplatintreated cells with different potentials, up-regulation of Bax and P53 and down regulation of Bcl2, expression levels were arranged in the following pattern: EMF+Allicin > Allicin > EMF > Cisplatin. EMF has an additive or perhaps a synergistic effect for treatment of cancer, and can be used as an adjuvant treatment with allicin

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